U2 singer, Bono, has revealed that he might not play guitar again, following injuries sustained in a cycling accedent in Central Park in November.

"I broke my hand, my shoulder, my elbow and my face,” the singer recalls, "but the real injury this year was to my Irish pride as it was discovered that under my tracksuit I was wearing yellow and black Lycra cycling shorts. Yes, LYCRA. This is not very rock 'n' roll.”

However, it is the aftermath of the accident which is pre-occupying the singer.

"Recovery has been more difficult than I thought,” he explains, in an A to Z of the year that has just ended. "As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again.”

Bono’s sense of humour remains intact, however.

"The band have reminded me that neither they nor Western civilization are depending on this,” he adds. "I personally would very much miss fingering the frets of my green Irish falcon or my (RED) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside from writing tunes. But then does the Edge, or Jimmy Page, or any guitarist you know have a titanium elbow, as I do now? I'm all elbows, I am."

Promising that this is the only public comment he will make before the band go out on the road in May, Bono is looking forward hugely to the planned U2 tour.

"We don't finish our songs, we just put them out,” he reflects. "U2 is a live band. Live is where we live or die. The songs continue to grow night after night. We have some extraordinary ideas up our sleeve for this tour. I've just got to be rebuilt by 14th May.”

Knowing him, that is unlikely to be a major problem. But only time will really tell...